There is no shortage of arts events happening in Lethbridge in the coming weeks, so the Allied Arts Council is pleased to bring them all together for Arts Days — an offshoot of Alberta Culture Days, an annual celebration of the arts in Alberta, happening Sept. 28-30.
“ The point is to get out and recognize the incredible amount of talent we have here,” said Allied Arts Council communications co-ordinator Derek Stevenson. He observed Lethbridge has a very healthy arts scene.
There will be something for everyone during Arts Days including new exhibits at the Bowman Arts Centre and “Rural Readymade” at the University of Lethbridge, lots of live music, drama and a lot more.
“ We’re really making an effort to get everybody involved so we can really showcase Lethbridge’s arts scene,” he continued.
Coincidentally there are a variety of Lethbridge arts groups beginning new seasons during Arts Days.
The Lethbridge Symphony has their first chamber concert series of the year, Sept. 28, New West Theatre kicks off their fall production of Billy Bishop Goes to War on Sept. 27, and the Geomatic Attic continues their fall season by bringing Joel Plaskett to the Southminster United Church, Sept. 27 as well.
So Lethbridge Arts Days is going to incorporate all of these events and a lot more.
While Alberta Culture Days officially runs Sept. 28-30, Lethbridge is starting things early on Sept. 23 with the second annual Word on the Street festival, a day long street festival featuring music, medieval cooking and battles, poets, playwrights and lots of authors. The downtown will be blocked off from Fifth Ave. South to Eighth Street downtown branch of the library for the festival.
Before Word on The Street though, the Bowman Arts Centre opens three new art exhibits, Sept. 22.
Hazel Litzgu presents “Memories of the Farm,” a travelling exhibition of her favourite farm related paintings. It opens at the Lethbridge Public library with a reception at 4 p.m.. Following that there will be two exhibitions opening at the Bowman Arts Centre — “In Response to the Mark,” an exhibit of Wendy Lipinski’s paintings and “Canadian Extractives as Development Myth or Reality”– a series of photos by James Rodriguez. The opening reception is at 7 p.m. for both exhibits, which both run until Oct. 27, so you will be able to take them in during Arts Days.
After Word On The Street, take in a movie at the NAAG Gallery (255 12 Street North), where local science fiction/ adventure film the Medic will be screened at 7 p.m, Sept. 26.
“There may even be some extra scenes that weren’t in the original movie,” Stevenson observed.
“We’ve been co-ordinating with other arts festivals and arts groups. We’ve got a healthy arts scene in Lethbridge, so we’re making it a whole week’s worth of arts activities,” Stevenson summarized.
Because the Allied Arts Council want to expose the diverse scene, they are offering a performance sampler, which provides admission to the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra Chamber Series, Billy Bishop and Joel Plaskett all for $50.
“It is three events for the price of two,” Stevenson explained.
“It allows you to try something you may not usually experience. Maybe you love Joel Plaskett, but have never seen the Symphony,” Stevenson continued adding the sampler pack allows you to do just that.
The signature event of Arts Days is the ArtWalk, Sept. 28-29 which pairs artists with 55 downtown businesses including The University of Lethbridge, Bob Croskery Studio (609-12 Street South) and Smith’s Audio (236 13 Street North). In addition to art on display, there will also be a variety of art demonstrations all over downtown.
Music plays a more prominent role this year. There will be buskers at most venues and performances by a variety of Lethbridge musicians performing everything from pop to jazz, rock and a lot more. Musicians performing include Jesse and the Dandelions, the New Weather Machine, Vista Park, Steady Motions, Fernando Espindola, the Left behinds, the Naked Ear, The Politics of Joy, Young Medicine, The Hibikiya, Hibikiya Taiko Drummers, the Juarez band, Karen Romanchuk, Chris Walcher, Clair Lint, Mike Burrows, Matthew Robinson, Brett Johnson and the U of L Brass Studio.
There will also be comedy from the Drama Nutz and demonstrations from the U of L Object Manipulation Club and much more.
Another popular event is the Artisans Market, Sept. 28-29 at the Gate. Also on Sept. 29, the Southern Alberta Art Gallery will be cooking up a tasty pancake breakfast.
A complete schedule of events for Arts Days can be found at the Allied Arts Council.
A version of this story appears in the Sept. 19, 2012 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times.
